Dear Nicole

TeenDiariesOnline.com is a site dedicated to everything for the teenage girl. From music, fashion, and advice, it’s no wonder that we found this site to be a girl’s true sanctuary. Within the site there is an anonymous advice column called Dear Nicole. It’s a place where you can reach out for a bit of advice or a little direction. We all know life has its little (or maybe huge) complications. That is why we here at BFF decided to team up with TD to present you with, “Dear Nicole”:

Dear Nicole,

When people talk about me, it really gets to me even though I shouldn’t care. But I’m in high school now and it’s different. People are making fun of what I wear and it’s bothering me. What should I do when people talk about me?

A: Bullying and peer harassment are common and very hurtful in high school. Believe it or not 5 out of 27 kids in most schools are being harassed by other students in some way shape or form. So you are not alone. There are a few things you can do. You can talk to a staff member if you feel like the harassment is excessive and needs to be addressed by an adult. You can build a strong support blanket of friends and students that are close to you and surround yourself with those students daily. You can start a bullying or peer harassment support group (during lunch or after school) for others experiencing the same thing or start a campaign in your school with the help of a teacher, students and administration. Lastly, you could confront those who are coming against you in a classy way. That may be you simply laughing them off, ignoring them or telling them to basically “get a life”. Notice, I didn’t tell you to change who YOU are. You have to be strong and confident in who you are as a person or no one else will. Hope this helps!